Evaluation of Indian Lightning Location Network (ILLN) and characterization of cloud-to-ground lightning over Lucknow and Shillong using an ordinary camera

Abstract

This work is showing the performance of Indian Lightning Location Network (ILLN) and lightning characteristics around Lucknow and Shillong India. Observation of ground truth using ordinary camera show the location accuracy of lightning location network. By analysing the optically observed data the average cloud to ground lightning flash detection efficiency is 78.9 percent but some of them misclassified. In addition, throughout the observation in Lucknow, authors found the average inter-stroke intervals were 139.2 ms that ranges from 34 ms to 442 ms. Further, average multiplicity and multi-channel termination of these strokes were 2.3 and 1.2 respectively. The single-stroke flashes were below 23% out of the total number of negative cloud-to-ground flashes. In contrary to the Lucknow, all the flashes observed in Shillong seem single-stroke which have lower return stroke peak currents than Lucknow. This estimation of detection efficiency and characteristics will definitely assist to understand the different scenarios of lightning in plane and hilly area over the country and help to forecasters, and modelers.